Poultry-feeder.



C. N. TROMPEN & M. STRUBBE.

POULTRY FEEDER.

' APPLICATION HL-ED 0m. 28, 1914.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

' resins re CORNELIUS N. TROMPEN AND MAURICE J. STRUBBE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

POULTRY-FEEDER.

Specification of Ecttcrs Patent.

Patented Mar. 211, rats.

Application filed October as, 1914. Serial No. 868,928.

To all whom 2'29 may concern Be it known that we, CORNELIUS N. Tnoarran, a citizen of the United States, and MAURICE J. STRUBBE, a subject of the King of Belgium, both residing at the city of Chitity of feed is stored in a suitable receptacle till:

and from which it is automatically presented for consumption as needed.

It is the object of our invention to provide a device which is simple and inexpensive toconstruct, which is economical in operation, which will hold a comparatively large amount of grain or other feed, which will feed down the same as wanted, and present it to the fowls in a suitable feeding tray. We also provide means by which the feed'when so presented isnot readly thrown from the tray, and by which if the same is so thrown or spilled it is received in an appropriate receptacle, whence it may be re-' turned unpolluted to the feed holder.

Our invention also is self inclosing and adapted to protect the feed from wild animals or fowl, and to keep the contents dry and at all times in a cleanly condition.

The principles of our invention are illustrated' in the drawings, in which Figure 1 shows aside view of our im proved poultry feeder, a portion being broken away; Fig.2 is a cross section of Fig. l on the line 2 2,

Further describing our invention with reference to the drawings, in which like characters of reference denote like parts throughout: 1 is a substantial receptacle made of sheet metal, such as galvanized iron, and having the vertical side walls 2-2, the upper portions of which are preferably curved outwardly to form a substantial-bead 3. Within the said receptacle or base and secured to the inside of the ends thereof are brackets 4*, upon which rests a structure which in horizontal cross section is of proper size to go within the base mem-,

wardly in proper form to provide double roof slopes. On one of said slopes the upper edges of. the end pieces are connected by a stationary member 6, which forms one side of the roof, the other side thereof is provided with a movable cover 7 which is hinge-d at 8 by its upper edge to the upper edge of the stationary roof member 6.- Within the structure thus formed we provide a hopper, consisting of two strips of material 9 and 10, flaring at their upper vedges and approximated to each other at their lower edges so as to form a comparatlvely narrow throat 11. The ends .of the hopper pieces should be secured to the end pieces 5, so as to hold all the parts named 1n their proper relative positions and form a substantial structure.

The lower edges of the end pieces may be turned inwardly at right angles to form projections or brackets 12, upon which rests the shallow feed tray13. The vertical walls of said tray should be of such height that it may slide freely on the brackets 12, just below the lower edges of the hopper, which is formed by the strips 9 and 10; and the said tray should be of such width that the fowls in feeding may reach their heads into the tray below the slanting portion of said strips, while still leaving clearance space 14 between the outer edges thereof and the inner face of the base member 2. The said tray should also be provided with transverse partitions 15 spaced at short distances from each other to prevent the fowls from unduly scattering the grain. At the lower edges of the roof members 6 vand 7 at 6' and 7 are hinged drop covers 16 and 17, which may be turned back on the roof as shown, or may be folded downwardly as indicated bv the dotted lines to cover the openings 16 and 17 when the device is not in use. The feeder may be charged by raising the movable roof member 7, as indicated by the dotted lines 7". The lower part of the feed column will then rest on the tray 13 and the fowls may have ready access to the overflow feed, when the drop covers are in the raised positions and turned backwardly on the roof members. The cross partitions of the tray tend to prevent scattering of the feed, while such feed as is thrown out is re ceived in the base 2, from which it may be readily replaced in the hopper. When the device is not in use the closing of the drop overflow toward the edges thereof, where covers effectively prevents access to the grain by wild animals or birds,-and protects thecontents from storm when the device is placed in the open.

\Vhile we have shown and described ourv improved feeder in a form adapted to be used on the open floor or yard, the device may also be constructed for use against a wall or partition. When intended to be used-in this way, the structuremaybe modified and cheapened by making the same single instead of double, as shown at the left of the dotted line a-d in Fig. 2.

Having thus fully described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by'Letters Patent is- 1. In a poultry feeder; the combination of a feed hopper and inclosing structure therefor, a base h'aving a chamber adapted to receive the lower part of said hopper and inclosing structure, the vertically placed tached to the ends of said inclosing structure below said hopper and above the lower part of said chamber having its sides spaced from the inner vertical faces of said chamber.

3. In apoultry feeder; a plurality of end pieces having their lower extremities turned inwardly to form supporting flanges, a hopper removably supported by said flanges, a tray adapted to be removably supported by said flanges, and a base having a chamber adapted to receive the lower part of said ends and the said tray.

4.'In a poultry feeder; the combination with a structure comprising a feed hopper, end pieces attached to the hopper, a cover therefor and a tray removably supported on said end pieces, of a base having a chamber wider than the tray adapted removably to receive the'lower part of said end pleces and provided with means for supporting the said tray above the bottom of said chamber.

5. In a poultry feeder; the combination with a' structure comprising a feed hopper, end pieces attached to the ends of the hop, per, a stationary roof member attached to the upper part of said end pieces, a movable roof member hinged to said stationary roof member, and a feed tray removably supported on said end pieces below the hopper, of a base having a chamber adapted to receive the lower part of said end pieces so as to leave open feeding spaces above the side edges of said base, and drop covers hinged to the lower edges of said roof members and adapted to close the feeding spaces.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names this 26th day of October 1914, in the presence of the subscribing witness.

CORNELIUS N. TROMPEN. MAURICE J. STRUBBE.

WVitness:

A. S. PHILLIPS. 

